New Bike Shed app unites bikers in fight to help essential services
App lets motorcycles help those in need and you can be part of it
The Bike Shed have created an app that taps into the motorcycle community to get important coronavirus supplies to those who need it most. Users are able to input how much they can carry and the app provides them with tasks, such as taking PPE to hospitals or food to vulnerable people. The venue have been working on it in the background for weeks, but now they’re ready for people to get involved.
“Some friends of mine needed help and I thought there must be a way we could harness the power of the motorcycling community,” says the Bike Shed’s Vikki van Sommeren. “We have an amazing community, so we just needed to bring that together.” The Bike Shed have teamed up with Gophr, an existing courier app, who have worked hard to adapt their app to the needs of motorcycle volunteers. No previous experience of couriering is required, nor do you need a specially adapted bike or advanced rider qualifications – you just need a road legal bike, a licence and insurance. The scheme is tailored to smaller jobs, so no one will be asked to carry 300l of water, but Indian have provided a couple of their big cruisers which people can use to take larger packages on longer distances. Even though it’s in its early stages there are already hundreds signed up and accepting tasks on a daily basis. But they still need more people.
“The more people we have, the bigger area we can cover,” adds Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Sommeren. “Right now most of our volunteers are in and around London but we want to expand. We’re also working with disaster response specialists Team Rubicon, which could lead to people carrying medical supplies.”
To get involved head to bikeshed. cc where there’s a guide on how to become one of the support riders.
‘We wanted to use the power of motorcycling’ VIKKI VAN SOMMEREN, BIKE SHED